Pyongyang, December 21 (KCNA) -- The Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Monday sent a message of condolences to the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea on the demise of leader Kim Jong Il.

The message said:

The Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, the government of the Lao People's Democratic Republic and all the Lao people heard the saddest news that Comrade Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission, passed away on Dec. 17, 2011.

Comrade Kim Jong Il, inheriting the cause of President Kim Il Sung, great leader of the Korean people, devoted all his wisdom and energy to victoriously advancing socialism in the DPRK and to building a powerful and thriving nation.

He made great contribution to further developing the traditional friendship and cooperation between the parties, governments and peoples of the two countries.

His demise is the loss of a great leader to the party, government and people of the fraternal DPRK. In his death Laos has suffered the sorrowful loss of a close friend to its party, government and people.

The C.C., the Lao People's Revolutionary Party at this time of heartrending grief expresses the deepest condolences to the C.C., the Workers' Party of Korea, government and people of the fraternal DPRK.